Testing device for air-brake systems.



P. A. GfILFUS.

TESTING DEVICE FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION rILnD JUNI: 4, 1909.

982,714, Patented Jan. 24, 1911.-

HlIlIlI-IIIIIIIHIII lll-llllll im f3 Inv mfom 1*". Z W Masas.

M M WM FRED A.. GILFUS, F AUBU-RN, NEW YORK.

rJZESTINGr DEVICE FDE AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED yA. GILFUS, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga, in the State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Testing Devices for :tir-Brake Systems, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, .is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a testing device for air brake systems, adapted to be controlled from the cab of the engine to enable the engineer to determine whether or not any one or more of the angle cocks in the train pipe and signal pipe' throughout the train is or are closed.

My main object is to equip the end of each car withsuch a testing device and to provide -each of the'testing devices 'with separate hose and couplings whereby they may be connected to the corresponding hose couplings on the adjacent ends of the brake pipe and signal' pipe so that when the cars are assembled to forni the train and the couplings for the brake pipe and signal pipe are connected in the usual manner, .the hose, couplings on the rear end of the last car of the train may be connected to the adjacent; testing device wl'iereby such testing device will be connected in the'entire brake pipe and signal pipe systems which lead respectively -to the'engineers valve and signal in the cab of the engine. In other words, instead of closing the angle cocks in the brake pipe and signal pipe at the extreme rear end ofl the train to prevent the escape of air from such pipes, the hose couplings at the extreme rearl end of the train are connec ed to the testing-device land the angle cocks are left open to 'permit the testingdevice to be operatedby air" pressure in the train pipe and signal pipe so that if all the angle cocks are open throughout the train, the engineer may readily determine this fact by throwing the engineers brake valve to full release, thereby causing the operation lof the test-ing device which is connected in the brake ipe and signal pipe to allow the escape o air from the signal pi e for the purpose of o erating the signa in ,the engineers -ca thereby informing the engineer that the angle cocks throughout the train are all open or in position to permit the operation of all the brakes throughout the train. other hand, if any one of the angle cocks is g Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 4, 1909.

On the l Patented Jan'. 24, 1911. serial No. 500,175.

closed atl any point between the engine yand rear car of the train when the engineers valve is thrown to its full release position the signal will not operate, thereby lndicat'- ing to the engineer that some one or more of the angle cocks'are closed, this test being usually: made before the train starts to affor opportunity for the trainman to locate and open the4 closed angle cock o1' cocks.

Other objects yand uses relating to specific parts of the testing device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of the brake pipe and signal pipe of an air ybrake system showing one of my improved testing devices as connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of one of the testing devices. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of one side of the cylinder showing the vent opening therein.

In order to clearly illustrate my invention`, I have shown a train-pipe -1- and signal pipe 2 as provided at each end with angle cocks -3 and -4 of the type usually employed in the lVestinghouse air brake system, each valve having connected thereto -a flexible hose -5 and coupling -(i-.

'Ihe train pipe 1- and signal pipe -2 are connected in the usual manner to well known forms of engineers valve -7 and signal 8f respectively, said en neers valve and signal being located in t e engineers cab where they are readily accessible to .the cngmeer.

In F ig. l .I have shown the rear end of.v

the rear car `-A-. of a train'as provided `with one of my improved testing devices -11-, movable in the cylinder and pro` vided with a piston rod -12- having one end projecting through a stuffing box: or gland -13- .and adapted to open a normally closed valve .-14-1 This valve -14.- opens into .an air chamber -15- to which is connected a flexible hose -16- whichissimilar and adapted to be coupled.

to they hose -5 of the signal pipe This valve --14' is lnormally held in lts closed position 'by a spring 1T- and 1s provided, with a valve stem -18- guided m a suitable bushing -19- and provided witha lengthwise air passage 20- in one side thereof to lallow the escape of air there- Y 3o 14.- by the spring TZ-y when the piseration of the signal -8-`.

through to the atmosphere when the valve 14- is opened, thereby, causing the op- The opposite end of the cylinder --10- is provided with an air chamber 2lwhich communicates with the adjacent end of the cylinder -10- and' is also connected to a flexible hose -22- which is similar and adapted to be connected to the hose coupling 5*- of the brake pipe -1-.

The opposite ends of the cylinder H10- are closed by suitable heads -24- and -25- located at opposite ends of the piston --11-, the gland 13H being secured in the head +25-, while theopposite head 2/1- is provided with a chamber 2land is connected -With the flexible hose -22.

The valve chamber -15- is formed within a suitable valve casing -26- which is secured to an extension -27- of the adjacent head -25- ofthe cylinder `10-, said extension .being open at one side to the 'atmosphere' to permit the escape of air The piston rod -12-- and valve stein -18- are coaxial and their adjacent ends are normally spaced a slight distance apart just suiicient to assure the closing of the valve ton -11- is in its normalv position, but by a slight inward movement ofthe piston under air pressure from the train pipe when the engineers valve is thrown to its .full release position, the end of the piston rod --12- engages and opens the valve 14- for a short vtime only, just long enough to cause the operation of the signal -8-, whereupon the piston is again restored to its normal position, allowing the valve --14 to be again closed by the spring .--17-, the inward movement of the piston being limited by a stop sleeve -QS- which encircles the connecting rod -12 between the inner end of the gland -13- and innerl ,end of the piston 1l- This inner end of the piston --11- is of slight-ly 'greater diameter than the outer end soas to cause the restoration of the piston to its normal position when the air pressure at both ends is equal.

One side .of the piston chamber' is provided with a radial air port 2Q- normally closed by the outer endV of the piston, but communicating with a lengthwise channel 3G- in the adjacent side of the cylinder, which channel extends beyond the inner end of the piston and communicates with the interior of the cylinder through a permanently open port -31-..

Just atthe outer end of the piston l1- is a permanently open port .-32- in the in` connection held in its closed position by a spring A 3G- said valve permitting the exit of air from the cylinder at the inner end of the piston but` preventing the entrance of air thereto fromthe opposite end of the cylinder which communicates with the chamber The cylinder 10- is provided with an inner annular groove lO- normally covered by the inner larger end of the piston -11 and communicating with a' radial vent opening, as best yseen in Fig. 3 so as to allow'the exit of any compressed air which may leak around the piston at the outer end of the enlarged portion, thereby assuring the return of the pist-on to its starting position after opening the valve Mr- This testing device is adapted to be .used with what is commonly known as the lVestinghouse or vany other Well known similar. air brake system in which air pressure is maintained in a train pipe and signal pipe, and such device may be readily applied to the ends of each cai' the pressure in the signal pipe might be reduced. For example` assuming that the train pipe and signal pipe are connected in the usual manner to the engineers valve and signal respectively, and that'all of the" angle cocks in such pipesare open and the ends of such pipes connected respectively to the air chamber 2land valve chamber w15- of the testing cylinder -l0'-, then by manipulating the engineers vvalve to admit -air under-say 100 pounds-.pressure into the train pipe, and also. admittingv air under-say 40 pounds-pressure into the signal pipe, the pressure in the train pipe which is connected to the air chamber 21e at the-small end of thel pistonwill force said piston away from the chamber llO -21- a vsuicient distance to uncover the port -29- and cause the piston rod -12- to engage the valve stem -18-y and open the valve -14-, ythereby allowing a temporary discharge of the air under pressure from' the -signal pipe through the channel -20- to the atmosphere, causing the op'- erationv of the signal -8- and indicating to the engineer that all of the angle cocks in the train pipe are open ready for the application of the brakes when necessary. During this operation of the signal -8- the air under pressure at the small end of the piston passes through the open port 2Q- passage -30- and port -3linto the cylinder 10- at the large end of the piston. The air pressure per unit of area is, therefore, the same upon the large end as upon the small end of the piston, thereby causing the return of said piston and its rod 12.- to normal position again closingA the port -29- and allowing the spring 17- to close the valve -14-, the testing device beingnow readyfor a repetition of the test when desired.

y In order to obviate any liability of 'leakage of the compressed air past the piston in either direction which would tend to balance the piston in its inoperative position, I Lprovide a vent passage .40- in the cylinder preferably 4 solnewhere between the ends of the piston, such vent opening to at-r mosphere.

i It is now apparent that the air pressure at both ends of the piston is the same and it is, therefore, necessary in all succeeding `vtests to produce a pressure in the train pipe somewhat in excess of that normally maintained therem 1n order to operate the piston v--11-, such excess pressure being' brought about by throwing the engmeers valve to full release position which is sometimes donevto eii'ect a more certain release of all of the brakes throughout the train.

lVhen the engineers valve .is thrown to vfull release, the air pressure in the train pipe and in the cylinder at the small end of the piston is, therefore, increased-say V10 pounds-in excess of the pressure at the opposite end of the cylinder, or suticient to move the 'piston from its normal position to open the valve -4-l-- and permit a temporary discharge of air from the signal pipe through the open valve to the atmosphere. This movement of the piston allows the Ahigh pressure air y through the channels -29-, -30 and -31- to enter the interior of the cylinder at the large end of the piston, which again returns the piston to its normal position, and the excess pressure in the cylinder at the large end of the piston, above what is normally maintained in the train pipe, is allowed to escape through the channels -34-, 33- and -32- to the small end of the piston, or into the train pipe, such excess pressure being sufficient to open the valve 35- -l against the action of the spring -36-.

The operation of my invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregomg description, and although I have shown a specific mechanism for carrying CII out 4the object stated, any device operated by air pressure controlled from the engine for creatlng a leakage or discharge ofair from the signal pipe is within the scope of my invention.

lVllat I claim isl. In a testing device for air brake `systems in combination with a tain pipe and signal pipe, both containing air under pressure, a 'alve port communicating with atmosphere and connected with the signal pipe, a normallyv closed valve for the port, and means actuated by air pressure from the brake pipe for opening said 'alve said means comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder and having its inner end larger than its outer end, and a by-pass from the cylinder around the piston.

2. In a testing device for air brake systems, a train pipe and a signal pipe, both containing air under pressure, a valve chamber connected to the signal pipe and provided with a port communicating with the atmosphere, a normally closed 'alye for said port, and self-restoring means actuated b v the air pressure in the train pipe for opening said valve said means comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder and having its inner end larger than 'its outer end, and a by-pass from the cylinder around the piston.

3. In combination with the train pipe. signal pipe, engineers 'alve. signal and angle cocks of an air brake system in which colnpressed air is normally maintained in the brake pipe and signal pipe, means on the rear end of the train actuated by air pressure from one ot' said pipes and controlled by the engineers valve for operating the signal when all the angle cocks in the train pipe are open said means comprising a cylmder and a piston movable in the cylinder and having its inner end larger than its outer end, and a by-passfrom thecylinder around the piston.

4. In combination with a train pipe, signal pipe, engineers' valve, signal and angle cocks of an air brake system in which air under pressure above atmosphere is normally maintained in the train pipe and sig.

tained in the brake pipe andsignal pipe self-restoring mechanism operated by air pressure from, the train pipe for openingv communication between thesignal pipe and the atmosphere sald means comprising a cylinder and a piston movable 1n the cyl- Clt inder and having its inner end larger than its outer end, and a by-pass from the cylinder around-the piston.

6. In combination with lthe train pipe and signal pipeof an airbrake system in which compressed air is normally maintained in t said pipes, a cylinder connected to the train pipe, a `piston movable in the cylinderand actuated -in one direction by airpressure from the train pipe aby-pass communicating With the interior ofl thecylinder at opposite ends of the piston, a valve chamber connected to the vsign'alpipe and provided with a port communicating with atmosphere', a normally closed self-closing valve for said port, and means actuated by the piston for opening said valve.y l

7. In combination with the train pipe-and being operatedby compressedair from the" train pipe to -uncover the normally closed end of the by-pass and allow the compressed air to enter t-he cylinder at the inner end of the piston, said inner end of the piston being larger than its outer end, whereby" the air pressure at the larger end returns the .piston to its normal position, a valve chamber connected to the signal `pipe and provided With a. port opening to the atmosphere` anormally closed self-closiiigj'alx'e for said air port,and means actuated by the piston for openino saidvalve and therebypermitting the dlscharge of air from the signal pipe for operating the signal.

8. In a testing device for. air brake sysfg tems in combination` with a train pipe and signal pipe, a cylinder having an inlet connected tothe train pipe, a piston movable in the cylinder and having one end smaller than the other and' facing the inlet, a valve chamber having an inlet connected to the signal pipe and also provided With an outlet communicating with the atmosphere, a normally closed valve for the outlet, and means actuated by the piston for opening said' valve,

9. In a testing device for air brake sys? tems `in combination With a train plpe and Y a signal pipe, `a cylinder having an inlet connected to the rear terminal end of the train pipe; a piston movable in the cylinder and actuated by air pressure fromthe train pipe, a by-pass communicating with the interior of the cylinder at opposite ends otl .the piston and having one end normally closed by said piston, said kpiston having one end smaller than the other and facing the inlet for the train pipe, a valve chamber connected to thesgnal pipe and provided a normally closed valve for said outlet, and

means actuated by the piston lfor opening said valve.

-n' Witness' 'whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of May, 1909.

FRED A. GILFUs.

lVitnesse's: i.

II. E. CHASE, c '-I-IoWARn l. DENIsoN.

with an outletv opening to the atmosphere," 

